Loving Your Children

Admonish the young women to....love their children - Titus 2:4
       
From the moment a mother gives birth, to the time she sends them off to college and beyond, a child needs their parent's love.  The love of a mother is often conveyed through her giving; the giving of her time, her energy, and herself.  Caring also demonstrates love: getting little ones cleaned up for the day, meal preparations, affection, and listening ears, especially in the teen years.  Imparting is critical in loving our children; imparting God's Word to them, imparting values, character training, and a biblical view on life.  Exemplifying also displays love to them; denying ourselves and momentary gratifications that Christ may  be seen in our speech, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity.
     How can a mother successfully carry out the high calling and privelage of loving her children?  The resources needed to achieve this are found at the feet of Jesus, where you and I are beckoned to come and receive all the heavenly supplies needed to do the will of God for each day.  Beginning your morning with God's Word and prayer will pour into your cup His love, Jesus' joy, and the peace of the Holy Spirit, so you might overflow onto your children all the loving they need.  And God will be glorified.

Trials and Testing

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing - James 1:2-4

Many years ago, Algebra for me was not an easy subject.  And now reliving it as a homeschool mom, I still find it challenging!  One fact I alway remembered from it was that two negatives multiplied always make a positive; and so it is with the Lord.  Though challenges arise and negative circumstances compound, factoring God into any equation always brings a positive!  
     A fallen world brings trials of various shapes and sizes.  Some can be minimal, yet constantly test our faith, and others can be monumental and bring grief and suffering beyond measure.  Yet no matter what storms may come and testing circumstances arise, God promises to work all things together for good to those who love Him (Rom. 8:28).  
     A close friend of mine said, "Nothing is wasted with God."  Nothing.  He uses the difficulties and ailments we face to produce Christ's character in us.  Trials have a way of purifying us as in a refiner's fire, so that we can say like Job, "When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold" (Job:23:10).  Hardships also have a way of bringing us closer to Jesus as we run to Him for help, wisdom, strength, and comfort.  Joy comes when our hearts are freed from impurities and distractions, and we are brought into a closer walk with Him.  
     The key to enduring is remembering God's love for you displayed through the suffering and sacrifice of His only Son upon the cross.  Trust Him and place His exceedingly great and precious promises as the rock beneath your feet.  So when the rains come, and the strong winds blow, you will find yourself standing, for God will hold you up!  Let Him have His way in the storm as He guides you to His desired haven.   He is faithful forever!  Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Rom. 8:37).

New Year's Resolution

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.  - 2 Peter 1:5-7


It has been said, “Aim at nothing and you will hit it every time.”  As we approach a new year, let us take time to reflect on this past year and assess our lives.  What was accomplished?  What was left undone?  What needs to be worked on?  What weights or sins must be laid aside?  Prayerfully consider before the Lord what direction He would have you take in the various areas of your life.  In what ways can you add to your faith the ingredients listed in the verse above?  What will you do to add to and build your relationship with the Lord, your marriage, parenting, grand-parenting, your place of employment, or ministry?  Make your aim high, remembering His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him.  Seek His strength to do His will, seek His ways to walk in them, and most of all, seek Him!  Being resolute to make Jesus the One we love and live for each day will surely pour over into all other areas of life to bring a bountiful new year.

Confession & Cleansing

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

If it is your desire to maintain an abiding relationship with Jesus day by day, one of the keys that unlocks the door for continuous fellowship with Him is confession.  When we first believed, the admission and repentance of our sins was the pivotal point in being restored back to God, but of equal importance is a daily confession of our sins. When the smallest of splinters enters one’s finger, it is immediately felt, and there is no peace until it is removed.  So likewise it should be in our walk with God; to be so close in our love for Jesus, and so enjoying His fellowship each hour of the day, that if a splinter of sin springs from our heart into action, we want it immediately removed so that our fellowship with Christ is not hindered by it.  Memorize and stand on the promise of  1 John 1:9.  “IF we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse from all unrighteousness.”  It has been said, the sooner we confess, this displays our love for the Lord, and the quicker our hearts will stay tender; yet allowing time to pass only brings forth a hardness of heart and will surely rob us of the joy and blessings that come from abiding in the love of Jesus.  Recognize the sin, humble yourself before God, confess, and turn from sin. Then, receive His cleansing by faith in His written word.  The precious blood of Jesus was shed so you and I can have eternal life and enjoy abundant life here and now as we abide with Him in a daily walk hand in hand with Him, until we see His face. 

A Woman's Worth

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.  -Proverbs 31:10

When Proverbs 31:10 asks the question, "Who can find a virtuous wife?" let me remind us, we are all somebody’s bride.  As believers in Jesus, we are called in the Bible, the bride of Christ.  There is a parable Jesus gave in Matthew 13, that speaks of our worth to Him, as kingdom recipients.  He spoke in Matthew 13:44-46 saying, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."  Who is the man and who is the merchant?  I believe this speaks of Jesus, who sought for Himself a bride, His church, for whom He gave all that He had, as He laid down His life for us upon the cross, that He might purchase us to become His bride.  1 Peter 1:18-19 tells us, you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold,… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  As His church, you and I are the beautiful pearl of great price, and to Him, we are a treasure worth dying for!  This is our worth to our bridegroom, Jesus Christ.  Who can find a virtuous wife?  For her worth is far above rubies…..Jesus did!